Tension mechanism for looms



F. J. MAN'IV'EL 'rnnsxon uscrumrsu FOR LOOMS Filed June 11, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 26, 1930. F. J. MANTEL TENSION MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1925 Aug. 26, 1930. F. JJMANTEL TENSION MECHANISM FOR LO OMS Filed June 11, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 was Aug. 26,1930.

F. J. MANTEL TENSION mzcrmmm FOR LOOMS 4 Sheds-Sheet 4 Filed June 11, 1925 Patented Aug. 26, 1930 PATENT OFFICE FLORIAN J. MANTEL, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK TENSION MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to looms for Weaving cloth and the like, and has particular reference to means for effecting and controlling the tension of the Warp during the weaving operations.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel system of weights, which are directly applied to the beam or yarn-roll, and afiord 10 a constant calculated tension upon the warp,

which may be varied to suit-difierent conditions 01" weaving, as well as different grades and weight of product of the loom. A fur ther object is to provide a number of similar variable weight units, each of which is equipped with mechanism that automatically. controls the positive raising .and lowering of the weight, thereby obviatingmanual'or other attention in order to maintain the tension at the required potential. A further object is to provide means for increasing and decreasing the tension without stoppage of the loom, and without disturbing or requiring readjustment of the weight-governing mechanism.. And a further object is to provide novel and efi'ective means for indicating derangement of the governing mechanism and preventing faulty weaving.

I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear-end elevation of a loom,

with parts broken away, to which one unit of my tension mechanism is applied. Fig. 2

is a broken end elevation of the same. Fig.

8 is an enlarged plan-viewof one of the detachable fractional weights. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section, taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; showing the mechanism by which the weight is intermittently lowered; also showin means for controlling and adjusting various parts of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sec tion, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is I a horizontal section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an enlarged end view of the adjustable sleeve that supports one of the tripping means, as well as the electric disorder-indicating means. F ig. 8 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 9 is an enlarged 1925. Serial no. 36,404.

elevational view of the governing brake. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the bell-crank that controls the governor. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the link that rocks the latter bell-crank. Fig. 12 is an enlarged broken view of the trip-lever. And Fig. 13 is respectively a top and a side view of the tripping means which effects the locking of the lowering and governing mechanisms.

In the drawings, 2 represents one upright end frame section of a loom, the extreme top portion being formed with a slotted bearing 2, which detachably receives and supports the spindle 3 of the beam or yarn-roll 3. The end of the beam is fitted with a flangesheave 3, which rotates with the beam. Adjacent the pulley 3 and the Warp m, the beam is fitted with a flange 3 and between the pulley and the flange is mounted a sprocket wheel 4, which is engaged by a sprocket chain 4, by which the warp-tension weight, as 5, is supported and operated. Both ends of the beam are usually constructed inthe same manner, and each end is also provided with one of the weights 5, for distributing the tension evenly throughout the length of the beam. The total tension weight is preferably equally apportioned between the two weights 5. In the present case, but one of the weights will be shown and described. The numeral 5 designates the main body of the weight, which is hollow, and comprises separable L-shaped sections 55 which may be secured together for operation as one part, by bolts or screwsfi and similar lateral base-portions 55 which are detachably secured respectively to the sections 5 and 5,

for supplementing the normal weight of the main body. The portions 5 -5 are cored (see- Fig. 5) for providing spaces in which certain of the weight operating andgoverning parts are disposed.

Near the top, in the section 5', is provided a sprocket wheel 4, which is rotatable on a shaft 4 whose ends are supported in the corresponding perforated sides of the sections 5 5 The chain 4' is endless, and

extends from the wheel 4 downwardly through an opening 5 thence part-way around wheel 4, from which the chain able on a shaft 6.

passes through an exit opening 5 formed in the opposite edge of section 5, and thence upwardly to the wheel 4. The return portion of the chain 4, between the wheels 44*, is preferably slack, as best seen at the right in Figs. 1 and 4, in order to permit the raising and lowering of the weight during the weaving operations, as will be more fully explained below.

In order to appreciate the merits and working of the weight 5, the following brief explanation is offered Most looms usually rise but a few feet from the floor of the mill, so that the distance that a pending weight may travel in a vertical plane between the beam and the floor, is necessarily somewhat limited. 'Where the weights, as 5, are positively geared to the warp-beam, the constant rotation of the beam, by the unwinding of the warp dur ing the Weaving, tends to move the weight upwardly towards the beam, and in a relatively short space of time, the weight completes its normal travel, and must be lowered, without disturbing the tension on the warp, which should be maintained at the required potential throughout the weaving periods. To accomplish these upward and downward movements of the weight 5, I provide a novel reduction and governing mechanism, which will now be described:

Upon and concentric to the wheel 4'" is mounted a spur-gear 6, which meshes and drives a similar gear 6, the latter being rotat- Gear 6 meshes and drives a pinion 7, which is rigid to a gear 7 that rotates on a shaft 7 Gear 7 drives a pinion 8 and a gear 8, both being rotatable on a shaft 8. Gear 8 meshes and drives a pinion 9 and a gear 9, which are supported by a shaft 9. Gear 9 drives a pinion 10, and a corresponding gear 10, both mounted on a shaft 10 All of the shafts referred to are supported by the correspondingly perforated sides of the sections 55. The foregoing train of gears extends from the top to the bottom of the sections 55 and efiect a calculated reduction, which plays an important part in the vertical movements of the weight 5. In practice, the downward movement of the weight 5 is preferably efiected at about double the speed at which the weight is carried by the normal unwinding of the warp from thebeam 8. By this arrangement, the rate of movement of the weight in either direction is substantially constant, thereby obviatmg vibrations or strains which might cause irregular weaving. The train of gears and the lowering speed of the weight 5, are

controlled and regulatedin a suitable manner by means of a governor, which comprises a shaft 12, one end of which is journaled in the side wall of section 5, while its other end is j ournaled in the lateral portion 5 as shown .in Figs. 4 and 5.

shaft 12 is mounted similar spaced discs 1212 The disc 12 is rigid to shaft 12, while disc 12 is loose on the shaft and is movable towards and away from the rigid disc (see Figs. 5-6). The two discs are connected by pivoted links 12, and arms 12, the latter supporting similar balls 12 The halls acted upon by centrifugal force spread apart, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, while the weight 5 is being lowered, as from the dotted line, to

the full line positions in Figs. 1 and 2. In case the said gears tend to rotate-too rapidly, the governor may be retarded, by means of a brake, which may consist of a horseshoeshaped part 13, the latter being pivotally mounted in a yoke-arm (Z of a bell-crank 13, by pivots cl, the bell-crank being shown supported on a ledge 13", as in Figs. 46. The brake may be adjusted towards and from the disc 12 by means of a rod 18 one end of which hooks into the free arm of the bellcrank, while its opposite end, the same being threaded, passes outwardly through an end of the base portion of section 5, and is fitted with an adjusting nut 13 A spring 13 provides tension for resiliently holding the brake against the disc 12.

The starting and ending of the lowering movements of the weight 5, is controlled by a trip-lever 14, which is pivoted between the sections 55 by a pin 14, for vertical movements, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. C ne end of lever 14 passes through a. slot 14 and extends a considerable distance beyond the weight, where it engages tripping parts, which are carried by a pedestal 15, by which the lever is rocked in a vertical plane. The opposite or inner end of lever 14 is formed with a double yoke, indicated at 14 14. Between these portions the lever is formed with a V-shaped cam or tooth, which co-operates with the yokes and a bell-crank 16, for positively holding the lever in the operated positions, as shown by full lines and. dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4. The bell-crank 16 is pivoted by a pin 16 to the side wall of section 5, and the free end of its vertical arm is fitted with a roller 16 which is disposed in the plane of the lever 14 and traverses the angular and curved surfaces of the yokcs and cam, and alternately nests in the yokes 14 14. when the lever is trip ed at the extremes of the upward and downward. travel of the weight (see Figs. 4 and 11). The bell-crank 16 is resiliently held in the full-line position shown in Fig. 4, for locking the lever 14. by means of a tension spring 16". Depending from the yoke-end of the lever 14 is a link 17 whose top end is pivoted to the lever by a pin 17. The lower end portion of the link is broadened and slotted, as at 17, to receive and afiord play for a pin 17, which is carried by an arm a of the bell-crank 18, the latter being pivoted to the side wall of the section 5, by a pin 18. The pin 17 is located near the middle of the arm a, and the free end of said arm is formed into a hook a, which is disposed in the path of one or more studs or stops 12 that'project from the outer face of the disc 12 of the governor (see Figs. 4 and The extreme lower end of link 17 is connected to a tension spring 17, which tends to hold the lever 14 and the link 17, as well as-the bell-crank 18 in'the full-line position, shown in Fig. 4. The bell-crank 18 is held from vibrating and from accidentally shifting from one position to the other, by a tension member 18 the depending arm of the crank being formed f-shaped, fortrictionally engaging corresponding serrations in'the top face 01" said member. Member 18 is sup ported by an secured to an adjacent wall of the main body, and its serrated end flexes by the rocking of the. bell-crank, as shown in Fig. 4. l Vhen the parts 14, 17 and 18 are in the positions last described, the whole train of gears from the pinion 12*, to the gear 6 and sprocket wheel 4, is locked against rotation, and during such intervals, the weight 5 may only be raised by the unwinding ofthe warp from the beam. This locking of the lowering mechanism is efiected by thelever 14 making contact, at the extreme of the downward travel of the weight 5, with a stop or trip pin carried by the pedestal 15 (see Fig.1), in a manner to rock the lever 14. as from the dotted line to the full line position, shown in 4, and near the bottom in Fig. 1. From the instant the stop15 tiltsthe lever 14 upwardly, as described, until said lever encounters a similar trip 15 carried by an adjustable sleeve 19, which is slidable on the pedestal 15, the weight 5 travels upwardly at the speed of the unwinding of the warp a The-tripping of the lever 14 by the stop 1.5,"releases the'hook a from the stud 12 which againallows the train of gears to operate for eiiecting the lowering of the weight at the faster speed referred to, as to the full line position, shown in Figs. land 2.

The majority of modern looms is equipped with electric means for stopping the machines, in case the warp breaks, or the ing mechanism gets out of order. These means are well.-known,and will not be shown or described. It is an object of the present invention to provide simple auxiliary means for etlecting the stoppage of the weaving,

sounding an alarm, or otherwise indicating that, the mechanism that operates or controls the weights 5., has become deranged, and to this end thesleeve 19 is equipped with appropriate electric parts, which will now be described I 20 represents a block of insulating material, which is secured to and spaced trom'the sleeve 19, by bolts 20. These bolts are preterably covered with insulating sleeves, as 20 21 and 21 represent similar dependmg flexivpedestal 15 from that of the trip 15 closing of the switch 21 maybe ellected by L-shaped bracket 18*, which is weights 5 are weav ble contacts, which-are mounted on the rear face of the block 20, and are separated by the sleeves 20 Thesecontacts are held in place by binding-posts 22, which may connect the switch 21, as by wires 23-23' with other electric parts (not shown), as best seen in Figs. 7 and 8. The lower or free ends of the contacts 21 are slightly spaced, for providing a normally open switch or jack, which is preferably disposed at the opposite side ofthe The a lever 24, similarto the-part 14, which is preferably rigidly mounted upon the section 5, as shown in Fig. 1. The lever 24 is disposed in line vertically with the crotch oi the switch (see Fig. 8) ,and said lever'is preferably arranged to reach and close the switch after the trip 15 completes the downward throw of the lever 14. In other words, in case the normal tripping of the lever 14 by the stop 15*, fails to unlock the governor (see dotted position of bell-crank 18 in Fig. 4), for eii'ecting the lowering of the weight 5, as explained, the weight will continue its upward travel until the lever 24 enters the crotch of the switch 21, and closes the circuit, which will sound an alarm, or stop the loom, as described.

VJhen the warp 22 carried by the. beam 3 is all unwound, the'loom is usually stopped, and a freshly loaded beam is installed. To effect this interchange of the beams, the operator first gives the stop 15 a partial turn, which swings its horizontal arm out of the path of the lever 14 see dotted position Fig. 13), and the travel of the weight 5 during its iastdescent will then continue until it comes to rest on the floor. The sprockets 4-4 and chain 4 may then be rotated in the direction for permitting the chain to be detached from the wheel 4. After the interchange of the beams is effected, the chain may be replaced on the new sprocket for resuming the weaving. During the weaving periods, the kept clear of the floor, by the timely tripping of the lever 14, as explained. The stop 15 is detachably mounted in a sleeve 15, and is provided with a pin 15 which is received in agroove 15 of the sleeve, for positively holding the stop in the trip-, ping position (see full lines Fig. 13).

, Upon the bottom ledge of the main body, fractional weights, as 25, shown in Fig. 3,

may be applied and stacked up, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2,-until the combined weight of the units eii'ectsthe required tension, for the particular warp or grade and weight of the cloth about to be woven. From time to time, as the warp on the beam 3 is unwound, and the weight and diameter ofthe beam is reduced, the detachable weights 25 may be removed by the weaver. By this means, the tension of the warp, according to the diame ter of the beam and the numberot threads carried thereby, may be kept substantially at the required potential throughout a weaving period. At the start of the weaving, the weight units 5 are usually built up correspondingly by means of the fractional parts 25, until the combined weight of the units at the opposite ends of the beam indicate the computed tension for the breadth and character of the cloth to be woven. For relatively narrow cloth, but a few of the segments 25 are required. Ordinarily, the weight of the main bodies, which comprise the sections 55, 55 alone suffice for the minimum tension, and in practice, these bodies are usually constructed in different sizes and Weights and kept on hand, to be selected according to the predetermined character of the weave ing. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is

1. The combination with a loom including the yarn-roll, of a plurality of freely pendulous warp-tension weights supported by opposite ends of the roll and tending to constantly resist the unwinding of the yarn from said roll, said weights adapted to be moved in opposite directions in a vertical plane during the weaving periods, said weights adapted to be elevated positively measured distances by the unwinding of the yarn from said roll, and means carried by said weights for effecting the downward travel of said weights without disturbing the tension of'the yarn,

2. The combination with a loom'includ ng the warp beam, of a tension weight pending from the beam adapted to be alternately raised and lowered at regular intervals during the weaving operations and to maintain a constant tension on the warp, means for timing the starting of the upward and downwarc movements of the weight, means for varying the range of the vertical movementsof the weight, and means for closing an electric circuit in case the upward movements of the weight exceeds the predetermined range.

3. The combination with a loom including the warp beam, of a weight for giving tension to the warp, chain-and-sprocket means connecting the weight to the beam, the unwinding of the warp adapted to positively raise said weight towards the beam, means for locking the weight to the chains for effecting their upward travel, means for effecting the loweringof the weight on said chain automatically at the end of each upward movement without disturbing the tension of the warp, and means for varying the gravitative speed of the weight.

4. The combination with a loom including the warp beam, of a weight suspended from the beam adapted to provide tension for the warp, means for positively moving the Weight in one direction by the unwinding of the warp from the beam, means for moving the weight in the opposite direction for enabling the unwinding of the warp to repeat the positive movement of the weight, a lever for effecting the changes in the directions of travel of the weight, and means actuated by said lever for locking the weight against movement except by the unwinding of the warp.

5. The combination with a loom including the warp-roll, a tension weight depending from the roll, said weight adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly during the weaving periods, chain-and-sprocket means positively connecting said weight to said roll, a train of reduction gears geared to the sprocket wheel carried by the weight adapted to control the speed of the descending weight, a governor, a bell-crank adapted to engage parts of the governor for locking said gears and sprocket wheel against rotation, whereby the normal unwinding of the warp effects the positive raising of the weight, and a lever adapted to be tilted by the raising and lowering of the weight for starting and stopping the train of gears.

6. The combination with a loom including the warp beam, of a pendulous tension weight supported by the ends of the beam, sprocket wheels carried respectively by the beam and the weight and operatively connected by chains, said weight adapted to be in constant upward and downward motion during the weaving periods and to maintain a constant tension of the warp, means for gaging the range of the opposite movements of the weight, means for intermittently rendering the sprocket wheel of the weight stationary for effecting the raising of the weight by the unwinding of the warp, means for releasing said sprocket wheel for effecting the descent of the weight at the end of each predetermined upward travel of the weight, and means for accelerating the downward travel of weight as compared with its upward movement.

'7. The combination with a warp beam and side frames provided with slots in which the shaft of the beam turns, of a sprocket wheel rigidly secured to the warp beam between the end of the latter and the side frame, an endless chain suspended from the sprocket wheel, a freely pendulous weight having a sprocket wheel mounted to turn thereon and meshing with the sprocket chain to permit the weight to lower on the chain, and means for holding said sprocket wheel on the weight against turning.

8. The combination with a warp beam, of a sprocket wheel mounted to turn with the l eam, a weight, a sprocket mounted to turn on the weight, means for holding the sprocket on the weight against turning, and a sprocket chain suspended from the sprocket connected with the beam and leading to the weight sprocket on one side of the axis of the latter i so and leading to the sprocket connecting the beam on the opposite side of the turning axis of the weight sprocket so'tliat the weight can descend without interfering with the sprocket chain. 7

9. T he combination with a frame having bearirslots, of a warp beam having a shaft turning in said slots, two sprocket wheels rigidly secured to said beam at opposite ends of the latter, two sprocket chains passed about said sprocket wheels and suspended from the latter, a freely pendulous weight suspended "from each sprocket chain and movable along the same, and means for connecting each weight to one of the sprocket chains to cause such weight to travel with the chain.

10. The combination witha warp beam, of

a suspended endless sprocket chain driven by the beam, 21 weight having a chamber provided'with an opening in its top and also in one side through which the chain passes, the weight having a lateral extension on the side opposite the opening, a sprocket arranged in the weight and about which thechain passes, means for holding the sprocket against turning on the weight, and separate Weights supported by the lateral extension and cooperating with the weight above the extension.

11. The combination with a loom including the warp-beam, of a plurality of weights for maintaining a constant tension on the warp, means for positively elevating the weights by the unwinding of the warp, means for interi'nittently lowering the weights the extent of said upward travel without disturbing the tension of the warp, means for varying the vertical movements of the weights,

and means 101' periodically reducing the weights to proportion the tension to the decreasing diameter of the beam.

12. The combination with a loom, including the warp-beam, of pendulous weights" supported by the ends of thebeam, a train of gears carriedby each welght for controlling the alternate movements of the welghts in opposite directions in a vertical plane,a lever for changing the direct on of travel of. the weights, means for tripping said lever at the extremes of the upward movements of I an the weights, means for tripping said lever at the extremes of the downward movements of V the weights, and a'governor for regulating the speed of the downward movements of the weights.

V 13; The comb nation with a loom including the warp beam, of pendulous tensionwelghts supported by. and positively gearedv to the "ends of the beam, means 'for raising the weights by the unwinding of the warp dur-. ing the weaving period's, means for limiting.

' the upward movements of the weights, means for effecting the downward movements of the weights at the end of each upward travel, means for'stopping the gravitation ot the weights and for repeating the upward move-;

means for efiecting' the-movements. of the weights away from the. beam, and :alever adapted to automatically eifect the repetition I of the upward and downward movementsof the weights without disturbing the tension of :the warp.

15. The combination with al'oomi'including the warp; beam and sprocket wheels mounted near the ends of the beam, of a'plu-' rality of pendulous weights suspended from the sprocket wheels'by sprocket chains adapted to be positively moved towards the beam by the unwinding of the warp during the weaving, sprocket wheels carried by said weights and engaged by said chains adapted to be rendered stationary for effecting the upward movements of the wei 'hts by the normal travel of the-chains,means for rendering said last describedsprocket wheels rotatable for eflectmg the loweringof the weights on saidchains, a train 'ofreduction gears anda governor for controlling the gravitation of the weights, a lever for changing the direc- 9 tion of travel of the weights, and means actuated by said lever for effecting the starting and stopping of the downward move-g ments of the weights.

16. In a constant tension let-off for looms, a warp beam, a sprocket operatively connected to said warp beam, a'chain supported and actuated by said sprocket, a weight suspended by said chain capable of vertical reciprocatory movement having a second sprocket actuated by said chain, a gear tram enclosed in said weight, said'train connected to the second sprocket, means for retarding the gear tram lncluding a lBVGP'PlVOlZGd in the weight,

a standard adjacent the weight having mem-' bers thereon, one of said me ber adapted engage the lever at the lower end of the range of travel of the weight so that the second sprocket'is retarded and theweight isposii an tively lifted by the unwinding; ofthe yarn I from the warpbeam', the other of said members adapted to contact with the lever at the upper end of therange of travelof the weight to release'the retarding means and the sec-' ond sprocket to permit thedownward move- -ment of the weight by gravity, and auxiliary speed controlled retarding means connected l V with said gear train.

17. The combination with a warp beam, of a suspended endless flexible member driven by the beam, a variable weight, a train of gearing on the weight geared to the endless flexible member, means for holding said train of gearing against movement to cause the weight to travel with the endless flexible member, and a centrifugal governor controlling the train of gearing so that the speed of 10 descent of the weight is constant notwithstanding variation in the weight.

- 18. The combination with a warp beam, of a tensioning means for the warp comprising an endless flexible member suspended from the beam to be driven thereby, a weight mounted for movement on the endless member, means for connecting the weight to the endless flexible member to cause the latter to 7 travel upwardly with the unwinding of the Y warpfrom the beam, and'means for releasing the connectionof the weightwith the endless flexible connection to permit the latter gradually to lower on the endless flexible connection. 19. The combination with a warp beam, of a tensioning mechanism for the warp c0mprising'an endless flexible member suspended from the beam to be driven thereby, a weight, a geared connection between the weight and the endless flexible member for permitting said weight to lower on the connection, and meansfor controlling said geared connection to cause the weight to travel with the endless flexible member. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 1 FLORIAN J. MANTEL. 

